[bookport] Re: NLS Beta Program
- From: "Don Barrett" <donter@xxxxxxxxxxx>
- To: <bookport@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Mon, 06 Nov 2006 21:12:35 -0500
Yes, the digital book program in no way is meant to supplant web Braille. I
have heard that their download site will contain web Braille books and the
new digital audio books.
"-----Original Message-----
"From: bookport-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
"[mailto:bookport-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Dan Keys
"Sent: Monday, November 06, 2006 8:17 PM
"To: bookport@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
"Subject: [bookport] Re: NLS Beta Program
"
"Hi,
"So does anyone know if after the new Digital Talking Books are
"available, will Web Braille still have brf files available for
"download?
"
"On Nov 6, 2006, at 5:10 PM, Michael Bowman-Jones wrote:
"
"> Greetings Don, Walt and List.
">
"> I also send along my thanks to Pamela for her forthrightness in
"> handling the "E-storm" on this issue. I have to admit,
"though, that I
"> am very torn in that I just bought my BP (a couple of months
"> ago) and now wonder if I should have waited for the new one. (Oh
"> well, that's always a problem with things technological because they
"> are always changing.) Since one reason for getting the BP
"was my hope
"> of NLS compatibility so the BP would be my backup unit to their
"> player, it appears I should have done more research and waited. Be
"> that as it may, I still really enjoy this unit and will
"consider it a
"> complement to the NLS unit since I won't be able
"> (probably) to use it as an NLS-unit backup, as was my intent.
">
"> Michael
">
"> ----- Original Message ----- From: "Don Barrett" <donter@xxxxxxxxxxx>
"> To: <bookport@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
"> Sent: Monday, November 06, 2006 4:45 PM
"> Subject: [bookport] Re: NLS Beta Program
">
">
">> Pam, Thanks for the candid and forthright note. I think we all
">> fully
">> appreciate that the current model has reached its zenith in
"terms of
">> the formats it can handle, and I for one, wouldn't expect it to
">> handle newer formats, such as the one NLS is working on. When I
">> spoke of being curious about hardware redesign, I was referring to
">> finding out about efforts to redesign the new unit, which, as you
">> have stated, is being done as we speak.
">> Knowing that a new unit is in the works for release some
"time in 2007
">> certainly puts my mind at rest about the subject.
">>
">> The nice thing about having the downloadable books from NLS is that
">> the BookPort won't have to worry about using any
"specialized type of
">> card. If, as you all intimate, the new unit will support
"the new NLS
">> format, then books can simply be transferred to whatever
"card the new
">> unit will take, and reading will be a breeze.
">>
">> Since I was the one who created such a flurry about this
"topic on the
">> list, I am now happy, given Larry and Pam's responses, to
"wait to see
">> what the coming year will bring.
">> Believe it or not, even I can be patient and quiet for a while, and
">> besides, Walt, the list Sergeant at Arms, won't let me get
"away with
">> being too pushy.
">>
">> Don
">>
">>
">>
">>
">>
">>
">> "-----Original Message-----
">> "From: bookport-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
">> "[mailto:bookport-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of PAMELA RADER
">> "Sent: Monday, November 06, 2006 9:14 AM
">> "To: bookport@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
">> "Subject: [bookport] Re: NLS Beta Program "
">> "Hello Don and Others:
">> "
">> "First of all, since the NLS digital structure is still under
">> "development, it is too soon to know exactly what we are
"and "aren't
">> going to do. However, given what we know thus far, I "can tell you
">> what I've been told so far. Because the new NLS "format will use
">> something other than a Compact Flash Card like "the one the
"Book Port
">> uses, it is very doubtful that the "current Book Port will
"be able to
">> play the new books.
">> "Also, you are talking about making changes to the current
""hardware,
">> which I seriously doubt we will be doing, since we "are already in
">> the midst of designing a new unit, which will "be a whole
"new design,
">> we won't be making any changes in the "current unit and its
"design.
">> It'd be very difficult to keep "two designs going and 2 units,
">> especially if you are a "nonproffit company. You have to
"do what is
">> best for the whole "picture. That's not to say that we won't
">> continue to support "the current Book Port, because we
"will. We will
">> and are "currently fixing any problems that come up with respect to
">> "it's current functionality.
">> "One of the reasons for this new design is because of the
""changes in
">> technology and the changes at NLS. As you know, "technology is
">> always changing and you have to change with it.
">> "However, there's only so much you can cram into one box,
"thus, "when
">> the box gets overcrowded or can't expand any further, due "to
">> hardware limitations or whatever, then you have to make a
""new box.
">> This question has come up many times before and our "programming
">> staff has assured us that we are staying in touch "with the NLS
">> program, after all, we do a lot of work for them "and it
"would stand
">> to reason that we are looking into it.
">> "It's not like it's going to sneak up on us one day. We get "many
">> phone calls on this particular issue, as you might expect
""( in fact,
">> I got one on Friday from the originator of this "message).
"I realize
">> it's a hot topic and one that we are all "anxious about.
">> Unfortunately, we are all going to have to be "patient,
"while all of
">> this is worked out. There could be some "technical things that I'm
">> not aware of, but I feel quite "certain that if it were at all
">> possible to make the current "machine play NLS books, we
"would do it,
">> because it would be in "our best interest to do so. If it can't,
">> then you do "something else. As you all know, any time you are in
">> the "middle of developing something, situations come up that can
">> "sometimes push things back. At first, we were told that the "new
">> Book Port would be ready by the first of the year. Now, it
""has been
">> moved back to late Spring or early Summer. That's "the
"best answer I
">> can give you at this point. I'm sure if "Larry has
"something else to
">> add, he'll do so, when he has time "(in between developing and
">> working with the new unit and all "of the other things we're coming
">> out with in the coming year).
">> " I realize that some of you will be upset with this message,
">> "because you want the current unit to support the new NLS "format.
">> As I've said before, technology is an everchanging "facet.
"There are
">> many people who've purchased Braille 'N "Speaks just this year and
">> when the next note taker or PDA "comes out, they'll have the same
">> questions and issues and be "upset because they have to decide
">> whether or not to continue "using what they have or move onto
">> something else. Eventually, "as with the Braille 'N Speak and the
">> current Book Port, parts "become hard to get or dry up and you have
">> to move on and do "something else. The cassette will be a thing of
">> the past. As "difficult as it may be to believe, we still
"sell a lot
">> of "cassette machines. Eventually, those people are going to be
">> "left out in the cold. I feel for those people who won't
"be "able to
">> move forward into the next thing. Fortunately, NLS "will provide
">> something we can play our books on, I just hope "it's
"something that
">> will be easy for them to use as well.
">> "Anyway, that's a whole other soapbox for another time. The "point
">> is--we are doing what we can and we will have to stay "tuned. This
">> is just my take on the issue, for what it's "worth. Since I'm just
">> the Technical Support Specialist, this "and 80 cents might
"get you a
">> cup of coffee or a pack of "Rollaides. Anyway, we do hear you loud
">> and clear and are "taking your wishes seriously.
">> "
">> "
">> "
">> "
">> "Pamela Rader, TECHNICAL SUPPORT
">> "American Printing House For The Blind
">> "1839 Frankfort Ave.
">> "Louisville, KY 40206
">> "
">> "PHONE: 1-800-223-1839, Ext. 307
">> "
">> "
">> ">>> donter@xxxxxxxxxxx 11/03/06 08:08PM >>> "I've been off of the
">> list for a bit so if this has already "been covered, someone please
">> straighten me out, but if not, it "really is time for it to be
">> addressed directly by APH.
">> "
">> "As you know, the NLS beta program testing the facility to
""download
">> and read digital books is proceeding quite well. I "am
"told that the
">> site may be available to all NLS patrons "sometime around
"the middle
">> of 2007. Since the handling of "these materials by the
"BookPort will
">> require hardware, "firmware, and software changes, it would
"seem that
">> time is of "the essence if the Bookport is to undergo a redesign,
">> pass all "of the rigorous beta and other testing, and make a smooth
">> "transition to allowing its owners to read NLS-produced
""materials in
">> digital form when the site becomes available.
">> "Can you all shed any light on this? I can just imagine that "when
">> the NLS site goes live, any device that is not ready to "deal with
">> those materials will suffer much negative press to "say nothing of
">> decreased sales and popularity. Since the "BookPort is
"probably the
">> coolest device invented since the "electric coffee-maker, I would
">> hate to see it undergo such a "bumpy transition. NLS
"implementation
">> time just is not that "far off, and I believe APH has a
">> responsibility to its "customers to make a public commitment to
">> support this reading "system for the blind which will be free and
">> available to all "non-print reading citizens. As I say, I may have
">> missed this "discussion, so if this has already happened, I will
">> gladly "back off, and wait for it all to play out.
">> "
">> "On the other hand, APH has been alluding to a new unit for
">> "literally years, and given the true closeness of the NLS
">> "implementation date (perhaps half a year or there abouts
"to if "all
">> goes well), we really need the real deal and soon. Please "what is
">> going on.
">> "
">> "Don Barrett
">> "
">> "
">> "
">> "
">>
">>
">>
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">>
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">
">
"
"
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